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His new tattoo is vivid. A locked heart right over his actual heart.
And I have the key, right here, on my ribs.
It’s cheesy as hell. But it’s perfect too.
I sit on the bed next to him. Watch his chest rise and fall.
He’s so close.
So warm.
So mine.
It echoes through my head. Right now, he’s mine. For another few hours, he’s mine.
After that, I don’t know.
But, fuck, it’s good to have right now.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Wes
There’s no time for breakfast in bed. Or Quinn coming on my face. Or a romantic gesture.
I barely have time to brush my teeth and throw my shit into my suitcase.
Quinn looks at me funny. “You’re packing?”
“Yeah.” I want to explain. But I can’t. Not yet. Not until I have all the words in order.
Her brow furrows with confusion. She presses her palms to her dress. Smooths the fabric. Plays with the hem.
I zip my suitcase, grab it, take her hand. “You need help with that?”
“No.” Her fingers curl around the handle of her bright red suitcase. “I’ve got it.”
“After you.” I motion for her to lead.
She does.
I pull the door open.
She steps into the hall.
We’re quiet the walk to the elevator. Through the lobby. To the valet.
I hand the guy my ticket.
He nods and tells me it will be ten minutes.
It isn’t enough time.
But it’s what we’ve got.
Quinn shifts her weight between her heels. She stares straight ahead. Like she can’t bear to look at me.
Fuck, I’m not sure I can handle looking at her either.
I just can’t look away.
She’s so beautiful.
Smart. And sweet. And honest.
Right now, it’s so obvious.
I open my mouth to articulate the feelings whirring in my gut, but words refuse to form.
I’m good at a lot of things.
This isn’t one of them.
This is so far from one of them.
But I have to get there.
For her.
“Quinn.” I reach out. Let my hand brush her wrist.
She turns to me. Looks up at me with those big, hazel eyes. “Yeah?”
“I…” I stumble over nothing. Over everything. This is everything. I didn’t ask. I should have asked yesterday. I should have asked a week ago. It should have been obvious from the beginning.
“Are you okay?”
Hell no. But I will be. “Lacking coffee, but yeah.”
“Me too.” She presses her red lips together.
“When did you get up?”
She holds her hand over her eyes as she looks to the sky. “I’m not sure I really slept.”
“Yeah.” It’s funny. I was lying awake half the night. I could tell she was up, but I couldn’t sense her thoughts.
I should have turned around. Explained this.
Now, I’m running out of time.
I’m asking for too much.
But that isn’t stopping me.
“Why didn’t you make tea?” It’s all I can think to say.
“With the coffee maker?” Her nose scrunches in distaste. “Wes, you know me better than that.”
“It’s caffeine.”
She shakes her head. “Not worth it.”
“The coffee shop downstairs?”
Again, she shakes her head.
She didn’t want to leave.
She didn’t want to give up a single minute between us.
Screeching tires grab my attention. A valet pulls the minivan into the driveway.
I find a five in my wallet. Hand it to the guy as he offers my keys.
He’s a gentleman about taking our bags and opening the door for Quinn.
I should appreciate it.
But I don’t.
I don’t want anyone else taking care of her.
Not now.
Not ever.
Fuck, there isn’t much time.
There isn’t any time.
I need to come out with this.
But even as I buckle my seatbelt and pull onto the street, the words refuse to come.
The airport is right there.
Five minutes away.
The closest airport in the history of any city anywhere.
The one time I want the drive to the airport to take forever, it’s five fucking minutes.
Quinn leans forward to change the radio station.
I’m still not sure what the hell I’m doing with the car. But I know I can trust Griffin to figure it out. Even if he’s got plenty of shit to figure out for himself.
Quinn leans back in her seat. She folds her hands in her lap. “Wes, um…”
“Yeah?”
“If, um… if this leaves with me getting on that plane alone, could you tell me now?”
My heart pounds so hard it drowns out the music. “Is that what you want?”
“Um…”
It’s not. I know it’s not. But I can’t force this on her. I need her to be as excited as I am.
“I just… I guess there’s no sense in beating around the bush now.”
I nod.
Her eyes flit to the windshield. She watches as I turn onto the airport’s street. “I… Um… fuck, we’re really doing this?”
“Yeah.”
“I… Uh… I really like you.”
I turn toward the parking lot.
Her eyes go wide. “Wes, if you’re… if I’m getting on that plane, I don’t need you walking me in.”
“I know.”
“So…”
I take a ticket and pull into the garage. “Give me a minute, angel.”
“But…”
“Sixty seconds.”
“Okay. I just… What are you doing?”
“Let me park before I explain this.”
